05/08/2026
Bears are out and about and human-bear conflicts are starting to pick up. It’s time for people to make sure attractants around their homes are properly secured. Bears are simple, they are extremely food driven. Food anchors them, but if you take away their food source they more than likely will keep moving on. You may have bears pass through your property, but the important thing is that you do not give them a reason to stay.
It’s crucial we don’t teach bears to associate humans/homes with food rewards. Once they get a food reward they will remember and continue to return. Just like us, bears remember their favorite restaurants so please do your best to try and not have any temptations on your property.
Please do not rely on bear relocation as the solution. Even if a bear is trapped it doesn’t mean it won’t return, as bears never stay where you put them. There will also always be more bears to follow. The root cause of the conflict is the unsecured attractant and the solution is to secure it.
Since it’s spring, we have a lot of females with new cubs of the year running around like the one pictured here. We want to try and set this cub and others like it up for success.
Here’s a list of things you can do to help keep bears wild and your family and neighbors safe:
• Secure all attractants and scented items inside a sturdy enclosure or bear resistant containers: human/pet food, livestock feed, toiletries, fertilizers, cleaning products, gas cans/ petroleum based products.
• Put up electric fencing around all bird coops and livestock.
• Secure garbage in a sturdy enclosure away from windows and doors.
• If you have a certified bear resistant container, make sure it is not overflowing and is securely latched. Ideally, put out the morning of pick up.
• Take down all bird feeders and suet cakes.
• Store all pet food and livestock feed within the house or a sturdy enclosure (not on porches).
• Turn on radios at night to talk shows in barns, coops, and garages to give the idea of human presence.
• Invest in some motion sensor alarms that help in deterring bears.
• After you use your grill, turn it up high to burn off any excess food and grease. Make sure to empty the grease trap.
• Do not let the bear hang out, it needs to learn that being around homes and people is not safe. From a safe place yell at it and make loud noises (ie bang pots and pans, car alarms, air horns etc.)
• Move any freezers or refrigerators that are outside into a sturdy enclosed building.
• Always carry bear spray when out recreating. Know how it works and how to remove the safety. Keep an eye on expiration. Project your voice as the human voice is the best deterrent.
Thank you and have a safe and happy spring!
